» News Room : Seasonal : Halloween : Press Release 2003

Halloween Unmasked

NATIONAL CONFECTIONERS ASSOCIATION SHARES FUN FACTS ABOUT THIS FAVORITE HOLIDAY

(Vienna, VA) — Parents who are preparing for Halloween family fun are sharing one of their own favorite childhood memories with their kids, according to a poll conducted by the National Confectioners Association (NCA). In the telephone survey, adults ranked Halloween trick-or-treating as their favorite holiday memory involving candy.

“As adults, we remember the fun and excitement we had at Halloween - choosing a costume, carving a pumpkin, collecting lots of treats. It’s a magical time for kids, a special tradition we want to recreate for them,” explains Larry Graham, president of the National Confectioners Association.

Participation in Halloween activities ranging from parties to trick-or-treating to decorating the house continues to grow, statistics show. Here are some fun facts about this favorite holiday:

  • The National Retail Federation reports sales of Halloween-related items will be about $6.9 billion this year.
  • Polls indicate that about 80 percent of Americans participate in trick-or-treat activities (NCA poll).
  • Eighty-four percent of kids ranked candy and gum as the top items they hope to receive when they go trick-or-treating (NCA poll).
  • Nearly 90 percent of parents said they sneak goodies from their kids’ trick-or-treat bags (NCA poll).
  • More than 20 million pounds of candy corn is made for Halloween. If laid end-to-end, that is enough to circle the moon twice and have some left over, or enough to fill 600,000 bushel baskets to overflowing.
  • According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, most candies are no different than a slice of bread or a pretzel when it comes to tooth decay. Any food containing a “fermentable carbohydrate,” such as starch or sugar, can cause decay.
  • Eaten in moderation, candy can fit into a balanced diet and active lifestyle. All types of candy contribute only 1-3 percent of daily calories to children’s diets.
  • Parents agree that as long as their children are eating a balanced diet, candy in moderation is fine as a dessert or snack (NCA survey)

NCA reminds parents to help ensure a safe Halloween for their children by limiting trick-or-treat activities to familiar homes, accompanying young children on their trick-or-treat rounds and inspecting all goodies before any are eaten.